In brief

Agassi eliminated in SAP quarterfinal

By wire services
Published February 12, 2005

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Andre Agassi was routed 6-3, 6-1 by Jurgen Melzer in Friday's quarterfinals of the SAP Open. After losing to Agassi in April 2003 in Houston, Melzer has beaten Agassi in two straight, including 6-3, 6-3 in July in Toronto.

"He played much better than me. That's what he did both times," Agassi said.

Melzer faces Cyril Saulnier, who upset Vincent Spadea 6-2, 6-4, today. Tommy Haas remained unbeaten in seven meetings against Max Mirnyi, winning 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.

GAZ DE FRANCE: Serena Williams withdrew because of a stomach flu, allowing Dinara Safina to reach the event's semifinals for the second straight year.

KOURNIKOVA CASE: A judge in Miami increased the bail for William Lepeska, who is accused of stalking Anna Kournikova, from $50,000 to $250,000. He is scheduled to be arraigned Feb.22.

Shane Robinson and Ryne Malone homered to lead host FSU to a 7-3 win over Auburn in baseball. Robinson homered to lead off the first. Tied at 2 in the fourth, FSU's Aaron Cheesman scored on a double steal and Brant Peacher went to third on an error. Bryan Henry's bunt scored Peacher. Malone's two-run homer in the eighth made it 7-3. ... Brendan Katin's two-run homer in the eighth capped host Miami's rally in a 11-9 win over USF. It trailed 9-2 in the sixth.

SOFTBALL: USF won twice at the Florida GRU Classic in Gainesville. Sophomore Danielle Urbanik pitched a one-hit complete game in a 5-0 win over Notre Dame. Then Kasey Cash struck out six in 42/3 innings to beat Coastal Carolina 7-3.

DIVING: Tampa Prep graduate Chris Colwill won the 1-meter title for Georgia at the SEC Championships in Gainesville.

TENNIS: The host FSU women beat UCF 7-0 for coach Jennifer Hyde's first win. ... The host FSU men earned the doubles point then rolled past USF 6-1.

FLORIDA: The host gymnastics team beat Auburn 196.525-194. Ashley Reed won the all-around and shared first in the beam and bars. ... Mike Morrison (long jump), Kyle Farmer (200 meters) and the distance medley relay posted provisional marks to qualify for the NCAA indoor championships at the Iowa State Classic.

John Gaines, who started the Breeders' Cup, died in Lexington, Ky., at 76. He also founded the National Thoroughbred Association, a precursor to the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.

BOXING: Laila Ali retained her WIBA super-middleweight title with an eighth-round TKO of Cassandra Geiggar in Atlanta. Leatitia Robinson, expected to be Ali's next opponent, retained her WIBA middleweight title by knocking out Monica Nunez in 36 seconds. ... The Boxing Writers Association of America officially named St. Petersburg's Dan Birmingham trainer of the year.

OLYMPICS: Italian police can raid the Olympic Village during the 2006 Winter Games but not take criminal action, IOC president Jacques Rogge said. The IOC was concerned about Italian laws that allow athletes to face charges for possession or use of performance-enhancing drugs.

SKIING: Despite a fever, Croatia's Janica Kostelic won the slalom in Santa Caterina Valfurva, Italy, becoming the first woman since Erika Hess in 1982 to win three titles at the world championships. She won the downhill and combined last week.

WNBA: Indiana re-signed forward Natalie Williams, who is second all time with 4,420 points. As a "core" player, only Indiana could negotiate with her. ... Phoenix signed forward DeMaya Walker to an offer sheet, which Sacramento has 10 days to match. She has averaged 7.6 points in five seasons.

[Last modified February 12, 2005, 00:59:02]